Terminal device



July 7, 1925. 1,544,825

J. M. FITZ GERALD TERMINAL DEVICE Filed 'Dec. 6, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Iit 61' Mb 6. 7 w

July .7, 1925. r 5 1,544,825

' J. M. FITZ GERALD TERMINAL DEVICE File d Dec. 16, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Patented July 7, 1925.

UNITED STATES JOHN M. FITZ GERALD, OF RIVER FOREST, ILLINOIS.

TERMINAL DEVICE.

Application filed December 16, 1921. Serial No. 522,764.

To aZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN Frrz GERALD, a citizen of the United States,residing at River Forest, Cook County, State of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Terminal Devices, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present improvements relate to ter minal devices adapted to receivethe projecting ends of cables or other electrical conduit wires andwhich are, for their greater part, buried in the ground or otherwiseconcealed. Such devices are ordinarily known as pot heads in the art,and their general object is to provide means for housing projecting endsof such wires close to the ground or where they otherwise emerge wherebyaccess may be had to these ends for connecting or disconnecting them toeach other or for tapping into them, upon removing a cover of thedevice.

The principal specific objects of the present improvements are toprovide a terminal device of the class referred to which is susceptibleof use with free cables or wires is suing from the ground, trunking box,etc., or for cables encased by pipes of various diameters, as where suchpipes issue from the earth or from a concrete or other structure; one inwhich the wires may be held securely by means independent of theelectricalconnections, thus saving those connections from disruptivestrains; one in which the cable, free wires or tubing are so arrangedthat a sealing compound such as is commonly used in the art may bereadily applied to such parts so as effectively to prevent moisture fromfinding its way along the wires, into the pipes, or into the insulation;one in which the connection elements may be of simple form, convenientlyarranged and readily available for manipulation; one

in which tapping wires may be carried to the interior of the device andsecured to connection elements in a simple and easy manner and withoutprejudice to the substantially tight character of the h ousing as awhole; one in which a sealing co1npound may readily be applied so aseffectively to secure all of the parts within the device against thecorrosive and otherwise injurious effect of moisture; one according towhich the various parts may be assembled easily and progressively at thetime of installation whereby notable freedom and con venience ofoperation may be had as the work of installation goes along; and, ingeneral, a device of strong and simple construction which is highlyefltective to provide the desired results.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a top plan of my improved device in a preferred constructionand arrangement; with the cover part broken away; Fig. 2 is a medialvertical section, as on the line 22 of Fig. 1, of the device complete,with certain terminal wires extending thereinto; Fig. 3 is a top planwith parts removed showing the clamping members and the side wallstructure; Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view as on the line 4-4 ofFig. 2; Fig. 5 is a medial vertical section as on the line 55 of Fig. 1;Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary top and side views of details; and Fig. 8is a fragmentary medial section similar to that of Fig.2 showing the useof the device with tubcps in which the electrical wires are carrie Myimproved terminal device includes first a base 10 which is preferably aplatelike member normally horizontally-disposed when the terminal wiresissue upward.

It is shown as elliptical in contour and defines the general plan of thedevice. The base may be secured upon a pedestal or support 11 as bybolts 12, Fig. 2) or, as shown in Fig. 8, where a conduit pipe as 13issues from the ground the base 10 may be clamped between upper andlower binding nuts 14 and 15 threaded upon the pipe, or where a pipe as16 issues from concrete the base 10 may be held securely by a nut 17threaded upon the pipe.

The base 10 has an annular peripheral seatat 20 adapted to receive witha substantially good fit the side wall or ring-like member 22, which hasthe same substantially elliptical contour and forms with the base 10 acup-like structure which is part of the housing for the wires andconnection parts. The side Wall or ring-like member 22 is preferablymade as a separate piece so that before it is applied the base may beeasily positioned and other operations performed as the installationproceeds.

The base 10 is suitably in the form of an iron casting, and is shown ashaving a medial integral web or partition-like member 2a which extendstransversely of the-de- Til Referringtoltig; 2 the terminal wires. 34:"

areshown as entering; the interior of the' de- -vice in the form of acable through; an open.-

ing; 35in the-base 10and the clamping membe-rs31; are shown in Figs. 2;3-and 4 to be firmly clamped andbound upon thecable, the free end.portionot thecablebeing-thereby; held: rigidly by means'within the.housine. independent of: the. electrical: connec tions; The terminalwires 34L constituting the cable,,wh'en freed of outer-"cablewrappings,may severally then be. applied to connectionelements as desired'withoutinterference by thewei-ght of: the cable and, importantly, the tendencyof theicennectlonsto become disrupted by the weight of the-cable=v at.asubsequent time is avoided. Figs; 2; 3

and-4 also show terminalwiresjltl in a small cable similarly held? bythe clamps, 30.

Where wires .41 01'42 8) issuev from" pipes they; may similarly beclamped by; the

clamplng means showin the bunch of wires;

being first wrapped with linemans tape or fabric/if. desired to bringitsbulk. up toa size suitable for clam-pi-ng' or to protect theinsulationiof the'wires againstthe binding".

action of theclamps; v

A feature of importancein'this connection isthatthe base may first bepositioned-andthen the termina-li wires may befirmly:

clamped in :a; desired positiomno other parts i of the device beingpresent at the time; thus giving the workmannotable-freedom lIl'1pG1formin these 0 erations.

e P The holding means fonthewiresrwill or dinarily be spaced materiallyfrom the base to allow'full freedom for the assembling operations,as-well. as to provide space for sealing compound should itbe'desired toapply: such compound upon the base and surroun :l-

ingthe eables, .wiresorendsof the pipes as.

13 and 16 (Fig; 8),and in such case, to pre vent the sealing compound:from running into the open ends of the pipes or. out

through theholes 35 and (Fig.2) inwthe base 10 these openin sma beclosed'as b a piece oficardboardeifi (Fig; 2) or by pacl mg 41-7 (Fig.2)of cottonwaste or ute, or. at: 8 and 49 (Fig. 8). Such-sealing compound?would be applied in. the lower chamber or space containing the free endsof the pipes and the clamping means only after the side member 22 hasbeen put in place.

The ring-like side member 22 has a pair of t'acing'projections 50recessed (as well illustrated in Fig. i) to receive lateral edgeportions of the upright vane-like projection 24: of the base, the sidemember 22 being thus firmly stabilized upon the base. Each of theseprojections 50 has an overlying cover part 51 (Fig. 3) and screws 52passing through them and threaded into the rib 24 (as well illustratedin Fig. 2) hold the side wall member firmly'upon the base at the annularseat 20.

A plate-like-piece of insulation55 isJheld upon the side member 22 byscrews 56 (Fig. 2)'threaded into a. projection 57, tliesupper surface ofwhich is in the-plane of an" an nular rib 58'defining theupper-edgeotthev side member122. From Figs. 2 and 5 itwill 7 clearlyappear that: the insulation- 55 has an annular depending flange 59overlying this: projection 58, the insulation. not only there-- bybeingheld firmly in its .desired 'position,

butzthe overlapped relation. of the parts 58 and. 59 provides a wallagainst the entrance there of moisture which might under someconditions: enter at. the: cover connections: adj acent thereto.

The-insulationblock or plate '55 hasapa-ir or". relatively; large.openings 60' and: 61

through which terminal wires such as 3d" and 40 may pass whereby thefree and strippediends otthese wires may be above thebleclriofinsulation 55.: The top surfaceofthe insulation 55 is provided with 1 aapln:

rality ofrterminal1posts163 arranged around:

theopenings 60 and 61, and aplurality. of" oth'er: terminals 641arranged; at otherwiseopen spaces, these terminal. posts being insnlated' from each other and eachbeing provided; with clamping nuts 65,vsuch posts andnuts providing-a well-known form of electrical connection.lVith' such an arrrangement: it is clear that any two wires:

coming. into theterminal device maybe con nectedtogether by means of asingle binds mg; posts or two binding posts may be -'con-,

'nectediby a short wire.

A. feature of importance inv thisconnec.-

tion isin the fact: that the electrical. conthedevice; In practicethevarious-connec-- tion element-smay be-numbered, as by an;

imprint in the porcelain, sothat a written record maybe made showing howtheseveral wires are connected.

It is-trequently desirableinthe-use ofa dericeot this kind to tapintoone-or more i of the lead wires for somespecialvpurpose either atthetime of installation or after the original installation has beenmade;

annular flange extending laterally! from the side member 22: isconsiderably wider and, 5 clearly show. that-the trance of moisture.

on the short axis of the substantially elliptical figure than on thelong axis thereof, thus providing space for a considerable number ofoutlet openings 71 (Figs. 5 and 7) without unnecessarily extending thedevice on its longer axis. These openings 71 in the flange are ontapered lines, as well shown in Fig. 7, and as shown in Fig. 5 they leadfrom the inside to the outside of the device. Figs. 6 and 7 show howlead wiresconnected to the ter ninals 64 (or any other terminal desired)may be carried through the openings 71 without impairing the security ofthe inside of the device against moisture, and so as to hold the wiresfirmly by means independent of the electrical connections. I provide,preferably for two openings 71, a single plate 73 held by a middle screw74, each plate having openings 7 5 registering with the openings 71respectively but smaller than the openings 71 at the top, wherebypacking material 76, such as linemans tape may be wrapped around theconductor there and by means of the plate 73 compressed tightly aboutthe conductor, making the joint water tight and binding the wire in agiven position. For closing an opening 71 a cork stopper 77 may beforced into the hole and maintained in place by the overlying plate 73(Fig. 7).

The cover 80 has a depending flange 81 deeply overlying the horizontalflange 70.,

of the side member, the cover having an annular shoulder at 82 restingupon the flange 70, the cover thus providing a good protection for theinterior construction and wires against the weather. Nuts 84 on bolts 85(Fig. 2) act as stops to prevent the cover from being removed, whileproviding readily operable means for releasing the cover when desired.

Referring to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the upper ends of the cableswhere their wrappings are removed are above the clamping means and belowthe insulating plate 55. It is not strictly essential that such exposedparts of the cable shall be in that location, but that arrangementprovides that when a piece of cardboard, thin metal or any othersuitable material forming a wall or obstruction, as the sheet 86 (Fig.2), is applied so as to cover the clamping means, the space above thissheet 86 and below the insulation 55 may be flowed full of the sealingcompound ordinarily used for such purposes, and as indicated by thestippling of Figs. 2 and 5 at the place mentioned, thus sealing theinterstices of the cables where the wires issue therefrom, and betweenvarious wrappings thereof, against the en- At the same time this sealingmaterial makes a tight wall between the electrical connection elementson the insulation 55 and the openings 45 and 35 in the base 10 whichprevents moisture or corroding gases from the earth from passing intothe chamber having the terminal connections.

In some instances, as in tunnels where the moisture may be excessive andin other situations where corroding gases are present in objectionablequantities it may be found desirable to apply the sealing compoundthroughout the interior of the device, from bottom to top, and in suchcase the partition 86 may be dispensed with and the entire bottomportion of the cup-like structure consisting of the base 10 and the sidemember 22 may be filled with the hot sealing com pound before theinsulating plate 55 is applied and the desired connections made, andthereupon, after the connections have been made and the cover 80applied, the screw cap 90 at the top of the cover may be removed and theinsulating compound poured therethrough until the upper portion also ofthe interior is filled. Thereafter, should it be desired to remove thecap or cover 80 the flame of a blow-torch may be applied to it until thecompound within is softened. Upon removing the cover the sealingcompound may be further melted or chipped away to expose the particularconnections sought.

I contemplate as being within the present improvements various changesand depar tures in construction and arrangement from what isspecifically herein illustrated and described, as indicated in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a terminal device of the character described, the combination of anormally horizontally-disposed base having an open ing therein forterminal Wires, a projection upstanding rigidly from the base, clampingmeans carried by said projection for holding such terminal wiresrigidly, means forming a side wall of the device upstanding from saidbase, and cover means readily removably secured upon said base.

2. In a terminal device of the character described, the combination of anormally horizontally-disposed base having an opening therethrough forterminal wires, said. base having an upstanding projection, clampingmeans carried by said projection for holding such terminal wires, aringlilre side member resting upon said base, insulation carried by saidring-like member above said clamping means, a plurality of terminalconnections carried by said insulation, and a cover member resting uponsaid ring-like member and readily removably secured thereto.

3. In a terminal device of the character described, the combination of anormally horizontally-disposed base having an opening therethrough forterminal wires, a ring like side member upstanding from said base,

a cover member uponsaid ring-like member, insulationcarriedIby'thedevice, a plurality of terminal connections carried bysaid, in-- sulation, mechanical meansfor holding-end portions ofterminal Wires against retraction from thedevice, and means normallyabove said mechanical means for holdinga.

layer of sealing compound adapted-to'imbedportions of such terminalWires, the arrangement being such that by removing the cover memberaccess may be had to said terminal connections. I

4. In a terminal device of the character described, the combinationofmeans forming a cup-shapedstructure having a bottom part normallyhorizontally disposed il 111i an opening therethrough for' terminalWiresmeans carried by said structure for holding said terminal Wiresrigidly, insulation 1n:

plate-like form. carried by said structure and'positioned above-saidclamping means, a plurahtyof termlnal connectlons carried by saidinsulation, means between said clamping means andsaidterminal-Wireholding means. for holding sealing compound so as toimbed. portions of such termin'al Wires and form a. layer of r such:seal-c.

said cup-shaped: structure, and a cover read:

ily remoyablyheld upon: said structure, the:

Whole: forming; a receptacle for the clamp-- in-gncom pound between theside wallsoff in means; terminal connections; sealing compoundand-insulation. r

5; In a terminal device of'the-character described; the combination of acup-shaped'i structure-having bottom and=side Walls, the

Wires firmly against retraction, insulation in plate-form substantiallyoccupyingthe 7 upper area of said cup-shaped structure and carriedthereby, there being aniopenr ingfor terminal. Wires through saidinsulation', a. plurality of terminal connections onv the upper surfaceof said insulation, andracover: member: readily! removablycarried bysaidstructure, said cover protectively overllying said flange.

JOHN M: FITZGERALD;

